Police: Three women inappropriately touched in Columbia

WASHINGTON – Police are investigating three reports of a suspect touching women inappropriately on pathways in Columbia, Md.

Howard County police say in a news release the suspect description is similar in each incident and they believe the cases are linked.

The most recent incident occurred Aug. 25 in the area of Oakland Mills Road near Dobbin Road. A man on a cellphone approached a woman, touched her inappropriately and ran off.

In the first incident, on Aug. 7, a woman told police she was jogging off of Old Montgomery Road when a suspect ran up behind her, grabbed her inappropriately and ran off.

The second incident, on Aug. 9, again involved a suspect touching a woman inappropriately as she was jogging near Majors Lane.

In each incident, the suspect is described as a black male in his 20s or 30s with short hair, clean shaven, medium build, about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing about 170 pounds.

He was seen wearing a dark T-shirt and shorts that appeared to be running clothes, and a white polo-style shirt with trim.

Police have increased patrols on pathways and are asking any additional victims who may have not reported similar incidents to come forward.

Police are still investigating another unrelated incident that occurred Aug. 15 in Jessup. A woman reported that she was running on the Patuxent Branch Trail near Iron Bridge Road when she was approached by a male teenager who grabbed her arm. She pulled away and fled the area.

That suspect is described as a white male, approximately 16 years old, blonde hair, wearing a gray T-shirt, khaki shorts and gray Nike shoes.

Anyone with information on any of the cases is asked to contact Howard County police.